6 Great Escapes to Make this Fall
Getaway destinations geared toward everyone from foodies to family adventurers.
Index
Nantucket, MA | Cape Cod, MA | Newport, RI | Washington D.C. | Montreal, Canada | Greenville, SC
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For the Hidden Gem Seekers
Greenville, South Carolina
By Kaitlyn Murray
Greenville’s downtown has many walkable restaurants and shops. Courtesy of Visit Greenville SC
When I told my friends and family I was headed to South Carolina for a long weekend, most assumed I meant Charleston. “Greenville, actually.” “Oh. What’s there?” I honestly wasn’t too sure at the time, but I did know Breeze Airways’ (flybreeze.com) new direct (and cheap!) flight from T.F. Green to a new-to-me destination was too good to pass up.
Hampton Inn & Suites Greenville Downtown. Courtesy of Visit Greenville SC
As it turns out, Greenville is a charming city nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, complete with an idyllic downtown area. To take advantage of said footprint, my friend and I opted to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Greenville Downtown (hilton.com) — a walkable distance from nearly every item on our jam-packed itinerary for the days ahead.
Foothill Foodie’s Just Desserts Tour. Photo by Kaitlyn murray
With that it in mind, it was important to get a good lay of the food scene to ensure we were properly fueled. For breakfast, we couldn’t resist options like Old Europe Desserts (oldeuropedesserts.com) and Southern Pressed Juicery (southernpressedjuicery.com) — the former delivers on pastries like the cruffin (think croissant meets muffin) while the latter provides healthy acai bowls and cold-pressed juices perfect for when you’re on the go. One of our favorite lunchtime endeavors, meanwhile, was Sully’s Steamers (sullyssteamers.com). We were suspicious of the “steamed bagel” concept at first, but one chomp into the hearty, Dorito-laden Nacho Maximus had me eating my words.
Shrimp and grits from Soby’s New South Cuisine. Courtesy of Visit Greenville SC
When it came to dinner, we had two standouts. The first was Juniper (junipergvl.com), a rooftop restaurant where the hanging gardens of the Babylon-esque interior rival the panoramic views of the city and are only elevated more by menu items like the filet mignon and stuffed artichoke. The other is Soby’s New South Cuisine (sobys.com), a cozy icon chock full of Southern charm. We managed to indulge in the fried green tomatoes, crab cakes, shrimp and grits and Joyce Farms fried chicken with Jambon de Paris mac and cheese all in one sitting and didn’t regret a thing.
Yee-Haw Brewing Co. Photo by Kaitlyn Murray
We also found ourselves at a few nightlife venues and quickly realized every type of vibe was represented. Just a stone’s throw from our hotel, the People’s Tap (peoplestap.com) became our go-to due to its well-rounded tap list, chic look and welcoming staff. Yee-Haw Brewing Co. (yeehawbrewing.com) is ideal for those looking to sip a brew and catch the latest game, while Southernside Brewing Co. (southernsidebrewing.com) is the place to go for a flight, pretzel bites with beer cheese and corn hole. Group Therapy (grouptherapy.fun), meanwhile, is a perfect rainy day (and family-friendly) alternative with its mini golf course, ax-throwing station, duckpin bowling lanes and more. Our coolest find, however, was Entre Nous (instagram.com/entrenousgreenville). Call ahead for a secret code that will open a bookcase to reveal a moody speakeasy with live music and excellent cocktails.
NOMA Square’s Saturday morning outdoor market. Courtesy of Visit Greenville SC
During our stay, we were lucky to be in town for two downtown traditions. On Friday evenings, NOMA Square (greenvillesc.gov) kicks off the weekend with live music and dancing while a large swath of Main Street closes down on Saturday mornings to host more than seventy-five local purveyors selling artisanal goods and produce till noon.
If you want an even more in-depth look, though, you can’t go wrong with a tour. Foothill Foodie’s Just Desserts Tour (foothillfoodietours.com) is rich in sweets and history — how else would we have gotten the chance to learn Einstein’s ties to the town over peanut butter cake and a chocolate martini? You can later work off any extra calories with Reedy Rides’ Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour (reedyrides.com). The two-hour guided bike ride takes you through a few of Greenville’s picturesque parks plus a yummy pit stop at the women-owned Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery (swamprabbitcafe.com). A more relaxed substitute is a stroll over Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy. Whether you go at sunrise or sunset, the 345-foot-long structure is prime for waterfall viewing and selfie taking.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail. Courtesy of Visit Greenville SC
Greenville may have initially seemed like a random destination, but now it will go down as one of my top vacations, and I’m sure I will be back again.
Local Connections
It’s hard to believe that a landlocked Southern city has so much in common with our neck of the woods, but the following made us feel right at home.
Jones Oyster Co.
There may be no ocean in sight, but these guys know what they’re shucking doing. Look to the oyster menu for familiar variations from our very own Narragansett Bay — or if you’re new to the flavors, use the key to determine how sweet or brackish you want
to go — and then watch as the shellfish is shucked on site at the raw bar. Follow up with the lobster roll of your choice (Connecticut- or Maine-style) and snag some saltwater taffy on the way out to complete the experience. thejonesoysterco.com
Feeding a giraffe at Greenville Zoo. Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Murray
Greenville Zoo
Much like our own zoo, Greenville Zoo is a small, Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited institution surrounded by beautiful grounds and home to monkeys, reptiles, big cats and more. But the biggest connection lies with Miles and Autumn, parents to none other than Roger Williams Park Zoo’s giraffe, Providence. And what’s more, you can tell them their son says hi while handfeeding them a treat when you book a giraffe encounter. greenvillezoo.com
Fluor Field. Photo by Kaitlyn Murray
Greenville Drive
Take yourself out to the ballgame at Fluor Field, home to the Greenville Drive, the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Here you’ll get all the perks of a Sox game on a more intimate scale with talented players hitting homeruns over a Green Monster in left field, a recognizable mascot running through the stands and a “Sweet Caroline” sing-along during the seventh inning stretch, plus fun additions like themed jersey nights and Friday night fireworks on the field. milb.com/greenville
Nuts & Bolts
Travel Time: A little over two hours.
How to Get There: Take a direct flight from T.F. Green to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport with Breeze Airways.
Bucket List for Next TIme: Another speakeasy stop at Vault & Vator for a private cocktail class.
Worth a Detour: You’re just an hour or so south of what many would say is another underrated gem of a city: Asheville, North Carolina.
